Like Sewing Water

Hello Friends of First Fridays and a Happy 4th of July to my US peeps! It’s your old friend TJ from Studio Mailbox here to share with you where I’m at on my quilt project. Can you believe it’s July and officially more than half way through the year? *Gulp*

Last month I posted about the backside of the quilt and how I chose the softest cuddliest fabric imaginable to finish this baby off. As the comments came in I realized that maybe there was a little more to my choice than I first realized…

I think my favorite was the first comment from Debbie, “I’ve heard Minky is hellish to sew and certainly created by Satan.” Oh goodie! This sent me into a fit of nervous giggles. It is exactly like me to choose something straight out of the depths of hell.

Then Wendy, “I will contest, sewing Minky is like trying to sew water!” Holy moly. This ought to be fun. Someone throw me a life-preserver.

There was no reason for my fear. The TSL readers don’t just warn you they offer tips and help too…

Carolyn, “Wonder clips are fantastic for keeping the creepy crawly stuff in place.”

Betsy offered up, “Use a temporary washable spray adhesive to the back of the Minky instead of pinning when placing your layers together. Best thing ever, no more slippery.”

It seemed I had painted myself into a corner but folks were already trying to build a bridge and get me out of my predicament. Add to that TSL’s Sewing with Cuddle Tips and Tricks, I was armed and ready to get on with the show.

I had already started cutting squares and slipped with the ruler enough that I screwed up a long section of the fabric. Ever so slowly I would ease my rotary cutter against my thick guide, hold my breath and try to keep it straight on the grid lines. I don’t know about sewing water, but it’s certainly like cutting water!

And What. A. Mess. Wow. It’s got some kind of chronic dandruff that’s activated when a metal blade touches it. Let’s say you were all dressed up heading out somewhere nice. This is not a fabric that you can just run in a cut a few pieces while waiting for the rest of your family to be ready. If you even snip one little corner of this stuff you will look like crazy fuzz woman. Loony Lint Lady. Be warned.

Talk about apprehension as I eased the first blocks under the presser foot… but I’m proud to report it went better than expected! (Probably because my blocks are so dinky). I have no idea why I decided on four-inch squares all those years ago. Even though it makes the overall project pretty putzy, I don’t know if I’d be ready to handle anything much bigger. I would imagine a whole bunch of that stuff under your machine really would become a stitching slip-n-slide.

I finished my first row and quickly followed suit with a second. Then I did the unimaginable… I joined those two rows together too! Yes you read that correctly. (Fireworks shot off in space over this. It was beautiful). Then instead of continuing to sew I got out my phone and took a few shots of myself shaking my work in the mirror and texted it to Heather, “36 squares together, one pucker but who’s counting?” I look a little crazed in my stinky work out clothes yet strangely hopeful. My face is saying, if I can get 36 together I can get 360 stuck together. (You can’t see it in the picture but the minky is already on the backside since I’m getting both sides done as I go).

I’ll admit to whacking a few pins and adjusting my speed. I’m used to running my machine full blast. Since I’m a mixed media artist I’ll try sew just about anything and if I’m particularly uncertain about it I’ll just sew it faster. This is not necessarily the brightest mentality but it’s also probably why I didn’t think sewing the Minky was really that bad. I’ve sewn way worse stuff than this. But you’ve got to consider that’s coming from somebody who regularly sews on photographs, plastics and paper.

Overall I’ve decided Minky is worth its troublesome tendencies. The feel of this thing is fabulous. I would try this again in a heartbeat. I’m getting to the point where I will have to start connecting bigger sections. It’s going to get heavy. It’s good to know there are always clips and sprays if things get too tricky. Where there’s a will there’s a way…

Feel free to hook up with me on Instagram if you want first peeks at this thing when it comes together. (Let’s just hope I didn’t jinx myself by writing that as if it will be complete)! And until next month keep those feed dogs smokin.

TJ Goerlitz is a mixed media artist who pretends to be a seamstress whenever possible. Come connect with her on her site, Studio Mailbox, her Facebook page, or in Pinterest. Join in the story of the denim quilt every first Friday of the month where she will share her progress (or non-progress) right here with the readers of The Sewing Loft.

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